Yakuza

Jason Hill treads a dangerous path as he tries to survive in
Tokyo's underworld.

Yakuza (PS2)
RRP: $89.95
Classification: MA 15+
Rating: 4/5

It's surprising the Japanese gangster society has been a
relatively untapped resource for game developers, but Sega has
filled the void by crafting an absorbing action adventure that lets
players delve into Tokyo's seedy underworld.

Sega fans will appreciate this is a return to form for the
veteran Japanese game maker. Yakuza will revive memories of
Dreamcast's admired Shenmue games, particularly its character
depth.

Despite his nonchalant brutality (most evident during visceral
fight sequences), lead character Kazuma is an extremely charismatic
hero. He's a handsome, noble, middle-aged loner in a city teaming
with scum.

The prologue to the engrossing story sees Kazuma jailed for 10
years for a crime he didn't commit. Returning to the neon-lit
streets of Tokyo, Kazuma discovers his closest ally has become his
greatest enemy and the underworld is at war over the theft of 10
billion yen ($114 million).

Players must spend a great deal of time in frantic combat
against multiple opponents, with most missions resolved by violence
(yet without gunplay). Even an innocent stroll is regularly
interrupted by scuffles with punks, muggers and thieves.

Fighting becomes repetitive, with the same combination moves
able to be repeated endlessly, but dispatching justice with your
fists or a wide range of melee weapons proves satisfying. As
Kazuma's combat experience grows, players can widen his range of
attacking and defensive moves.

The bustling city contains many interesting diversions,
including restaurants and convenience stores with food to restore
Kazuma's health, gaming arcades with prize redemption machines and
batting cages for practising baseball skills.

The red-light district has other temptations such as underground
fight clubs and casinos with blackjack and roulette.

Endgame: A captivating, story-driven fighting
adventure with great characters, but not everyone will enjoy the
violence and repetition.